OCTOBER 12, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Poet’s biographer to speak for centennial celebration

Dr. Donna Hollenberg, professor of English at the University of Connecticut and author of a biography of poet Denise Levertov, will speak on “Denise Levertov’s Ambivalence about Feminist Poetry: Biographical Context, Interpretive Possibilities,” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the AMU Henke Lounge. A reception will follow.

Levertov was born in England in 1923 and emigrated to the United States in the 1950s. Influenced by poet William Carlos Williams and the “Black Mountain Poets,” she soon became one of America’s strongest young poetic voices. In the 1980s she converted to Catholicism and in the 1990s published a number of religious poems, as well as poems opposing the First Gulf War and nuclear proliferation. She read from her poems at Marquette in 1996 and died of cancer in 1997.

2. Schroeder complex evacuated this morning

At approximately 8:15 this morning, Schroeder Complex was evacuated after Public Safety officers detected a burning smell during a routine patrol inside the building. Milwaukee Fire Department responded and the cause of the smell was determined to be an unknown substance that had spilled in a laboratory oven, resulting in smoke. After investigation by the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team, the building was cleared for reoccupation at 9:25 a.m. The evacuation was a precautionary measure and no injuries were reported.

3. HRA appointments available; benefits packets arrive this week

Employees can schedule their health risk assessment to qualify for a discounted 2010 health insurance premium by calling 1-877-765-3213 and pressing "1" to make an appointment for their on-campus HRA. Appointments are available Oct. 26 through Nov. 20. Employees can also see their primary care provider for a health risk assessment.

HRA participation is open to all employees, whether they enroll in the Marquette insurance plan or not. Again this year, participation in the HRA will result in a cost-saving premium reduction for employees enrolling in the Marquette health insurance plan.

The complete benefit packet of annual enrollment information for Marquette employees will arrive at employee homes this week. All employees are encouraged to read the information packet and use MyJob to add and modify benefits during the annual enrollment period from Oct. 26 (Benefits Information/Wellness Day) through Nov. 13.

• New this year, per federal regulations, employees enrolling in the health insurance plan are required to add covered dependents’ social security numbers.

• Choose whether or not to participate in the individual plans for medical, dental and vision insurance. Employees who are not changing their medical, dental or vision coverage do not need to update their insurance coverage on MyJob. Their 2009 plan elections will default to their current elections.

• Choose whether or not to participate in a flexible spending account. Employees who do not enroll will not have a FSA for calendar year 2010.

• Choose whether or not to participate in the health risk assessment. To receive a discount for 2010 insurance premiums, employees must complete both parts of the health risk assessment: biometric screening and online health questionnaire. Additional information is available on the Benefits Web site.

4. Deadline for teaching enhancement award is Oct. 19

This annual award is given to a team of two or more faculty to develop, implement and evaluate a specific teaching project. One award of up to $20,000 will be given to the selected project team for one fiscal year. The award fosters the development of sustainable changes and innovations in teaching approaches within specific courses or clusters of courses.

5. Author Rick James to discuss Jesus Without Religion

Campus Crusade for Christ will host Rick James, author of Jesus Without Religion tomorrow, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. James will discuss what Jesus said and did, and what that means for humans created and saved by God.

James will address the specific contexts that color Jesus' story — the answers about Jesus, according to James, are in the context.

6. Nourzad to present for Honors Program lecture series

Dr. Farrokh Nourzad, professor of economics, will be the first speaker in the 2009-10 Honors Program Lecture Series, Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. in AMU 252. Nourzad will present “The Current Economic Crisis and the Alleged Crisis in Economics.”

The Honors Student Advisory Council hosts the lecture series by inviting faculty to address a topic from the viewpoint of “If this were the last lecture of your career, what would you say?”

7. Financial wellness is subject of employee program

Participants will earn points for completing activities such as creating a vision, tracking daily expenses and reducing expenses that aren’t aligned with their goals. In addition to having an opportunity to earn a weekly and a grand prize, the Employee Wellness Program will donate $1 to Make a Difference Wisconsin for each employee who meets the challenge (up to 200 employees).

The challenge will kick off Monday, Oct. 19, with a “Financial Wellness Presentation” from noon to 1 p.m. in Raynor Library Beaumier Suites B/C. Lora Reinholz, adjunct instructor of finance and developer of the four-week program, will help attendees think about their current financial situation and the steps to reach their goals.

For more information and to register, contact Mandi Weis, wellness coordinator, at 8-4581.

8.Faculty to share how they arrived at their research focus

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Manresa Project will host Dr. Roberta Coles, Dr. Ed de St. Aubin and Dr. Virginia Chappell in the “One Thing Led to Another,” series Wednesday, Oct. 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Raynor Beaumier Suite A. The series features short, lunch-time presentations by faculty who will share the paths they followed to their research focus.

• Coles, chair of social and cultural sciences, will present “Race & class: up close and personal.”

• de St. Aubin, associate professor of psychology, will present “Otherwise unemployable: becoming legal, then legitimate, and heading for authentic.”

9. Two Soups with Substance to be held this week

Campus Ministry will host two Soup with Substance events from noon to 1 p.m. this week. Rev. John Naus, S.J., will reflect on humor and its relation to spirituality, philosophy and theology Wednesday, Oct. 14, in AMU 227.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, Rev. Cedric Prakash, S.J., 2009 Wade Scholar, will present “Empowering the Marginalized” in AMU 163. Father Prakash is the director of Prashant, the Jesuit Center for Human Rights, Justice, and Peace in Ahmedabad, India.

10. Public Safety Offering Free Bike Registration

The Department of Public Safety is offering free City of Milwaukee bicycle registration Thursday, Oct. 15. Public Safety officers will be on the second floor of the AMU from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the McCormick Hall lobby from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to provide registration forms and distribute city license stickers. Completing the registration process will allow participants access to the university’s two bike corrals, located in the 16th Street and Wells Street parking structures.

To keep bicycles secure, DPS reminds bicycle owners to:

• Secure their bicycle with effective locking devices. High security locks are available for $20 from the Parking Services office.

• Secure bicycles to permanent bicycle racks that are cemented or anchored into the ground. Avoid securing bicycles to trees or other objects that can be removed or broken. On campus, bicycle parking is allowed in designated areas only.

• Secure bicycles in well-traveled, well-lit areas.

• Engrave a personal identification number or message on their bicycle. Electric engravers can be borrowed from Public Safety.

11. Panel discussion to address sexuality and religion

Marquette University Student Government will host “At the Intersection: Sexuality and Religion” Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. in AMU 163, a panel discussion exploring the relationship between sexuality and religion in today’s society. This free event includes dinner.

“At the Intersection: Sexuality and Religion” is part of a discussion series that MUSG’s Diversity Commission will host throughout the year.

12. Biological and chemistry departments to hold seminars

Dr. James Anderson, associate professor of biological sciences, will present a seminar Friday, Oct. 16, at 3:15 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences 111. The title of the presentation is “Genetic Analysis of a Yeast tRNA Methyltransferase: A Tail of a Twist.”

The Department of Chemistry will hold a colloquium Friday, Oct. 16, at 4:15 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Dr. Challa Kumar, professor of chemistry at the University of Connecticut, will present “DNA-based Light Harvesting Complexes.”

14. Register for Holiday Giving Tree by Oct. 15

Marquette community members should register for the Holiday Giving Tree, sponsored by the Marquette Volunteers, by Thursday, Oct. 15. Response so far this year is less than half of what it was last year, but the number of people needing gifts is considerably higher. Employees can help adults, teens, children, those with a disability and others in need by purchasing a gift for them. Monetary donations are also accepted.

After the volunteers have a general idea of how many employees will participate, they’ll place tags on the Giving Tree in November with a name, age and three gift wishes, but only one gift needs to be purchased. The suggested gift amount is $15-25. All items should be returned by Friday, Dec. 4.

Contact Kathleen Hawkins, social and cultural sciences administrative assistant, at 8-5500 to participate and for more information.

In 1909, Marquette became the first Catholic university in the world to offer coeducation as part of its regular undergraduate program. To help honor the centennial, a year-long series of historical notes highlighting turning-point moments and figures in Marquette’s collaborative past is running in News Briefs.

News Briefs is published for Marquette students, faculty and staff every Monday and Thursday, except during summer and academic breaks when only the Monday edition is published. The deadline for the Monday edition is noon Friday. The deadline for the Thursday edition is noon Wednesday. Highest priority notices as determined by university leadership are also sent periodically.